The Betfair Chase has emerged as a likely next port of call for Hewick following his narrow defeat at Down Royal on Saturday.

Having finished third on his reappearance at Punchestown last month, last season's King George hero raised his game in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase, going down by just half a length after a titanic tussle on the run-in with Envoi Allen, with the pair clear of Gerri Colombe in third.